For more than 60 years, Olympia has been a cornerstone of bodybuilding, but there’s another sport with decades of greatness with the iconic “O” that may be a surprise to many, sumo wrestling.
The type of physique that comes to mind for sumo is completely different from those typically associated with bodybuilding; Power belly versus six-pack, a mawashi instead of a posing trunk, and pure mass and power versus symmetry and presentation. But since 2005, the Olympia Sumo Championships have been held annually at the Olympia World Fitness Expo under the leadership of multiple-time national champion “Sumo Dan” Kalbfleisch. They celebrated 20 years in 2025 at the Las Vegas Convention Center and Kalbfleisch said it was another tremendous event for his game.
“Last year was another great year, and I’m even more excited to be a part of Olympia this year, which will be our 21st,” Kalbfleisch said.
The 2026 edition will take place on September 25 and 26 at the Las Vegas Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, and it is sure to attract the attention of fans old and new. If you have tickets to the World Fitness Expo, you will have access to the action on both days.
Train with Sumo Dan De
Kalbfleisch would have called Friday, September 25, training day. People who are new to sumo can learn from Kalbflisch and progress further to see if they have any potential. Events like the Olympia World Fitness Expo and days like this raise his game, which is why he has organized the event for over 20 years. The day also has personal significance for Kalbfleisch.
“This would be a fun way to spend a birthday,” joked Kalbfleisch. “People who are interested and want to see what it’s like can come out on Friday.”
competition saturday
The main event of the weekend is the Olympia Sumo Championships on Saturday, September 26. Men and women in various weight classes will be eligible to step onto a 15-foot diameter dohyo, where they compete, to fight for Olympia glory. There will also be an openweight category where athletes from different weight categories can face each other.
As is the case with bodybuilding, an upset is always possible at the Sumo Dan’s Olympia Sumo Championship, but some athletes on the men’s side have earned reputations as favorites due to previous competition success.
matt cox
Matt Cox won a gold medal in the lightweight division a year ago, and will be back for back-to-back championships. Cox also has experience as a middleweight, but it is unknown what division he will enter this year.
Angel Delatorre
Angel Delatorre placed first in the heavyweight group, and he won a bronze medal in the openweight category. He has qualified for the World Games in the past and is coming off a silver medal at the 2026 US Sumo Open.
Larry Velasquez
Besides sumo, Larry Velasquez is also in law enforcement and is a motorsports writer. He has only been in the sport for a few years but won his first Olympia medal in 2025 when he won bronze as a heavyweight. There is a possibility that Delatorre and Velasquez could compete for gold again in 2026.
cornelius booker
The 2025 Olympia Sumo Light-Heavyweight Champion was Cornelius Booker, and has two US Sumo national championships. The Florida sumo founder will be a major force in 2026 and could leave Vegas with another gold medal.
Ryan White
Ryan White was a bronze medalist in the light-heavyweight class a year ago, and he has experience in other divisions as well. He has been associated with this game since 2010 and will be involved in it again this year.
Zach Johnson-Dunlap
Zach Johnson-Dunlap was one of Kalbflisch’s training partners, and is known as “Double Jeopardy” due to his appearance on the iconic game show. Johnson-Dunlap has been a Top 3 All-American Sumo Championship finalist in his career.
Follow to learn more about Sumo Dan and the Olympia Sumo Championships @sumodanusa And @OlympiaSumo On Instagram.
Expo tickets can be purchased in advance www.mrolympia.com.
